Danny Boone

Danny Boone is and always has been a hardworking musician, who’s been grinding it out on the road for more than two decades. “I just want to make some music and entertain people and connect with people,” said Boone. “That’s who I am.” After releasing seven studio albums, two remix albums and a live album with Rehab – the band he cofounded in 1998 – Boone is releasing his first solo album Fish Grease. “It does give me the freedom to try some things we hadn’t done,” said Boone, whose 12-song offering has a decidedly country bent lyrically, while maintaining a rap and hip hop delivery he developed over the past 28 years, since he formed Prime Suspects when he was only 16 years old. “I just try to write what comes to me. “Music doesn’t really have a genre to me. Music is music.” For the first time the Warner Robins, Georgia-native was free to express himself. The final track list for the album, which will be released June 10, was culled from in upwards of 30 songs gathered over a five-week period. Though he admits to being a little scared to step away from the comfort of his longtime band – of all its members Boone is the one most closely associated with Rehab – it proved to be quite a prolific time for him as a songwriter. According to Shannon Houchins, who executive produced the project, the real challenge was when it came to time select the final songs for Fish Grease and making the tough decisions to leave some great material off. In the end, Houchins lauded Boone for keeping it real. Boone said he wanted to lay back on this project and sing more, but it still has an underlying hip hop influence set against the canvas of the country lifestyle that will certainly appeal to country music radio. Houchins said, “It’s easy for Danny to put into words what he sees around him.” “It’s definitely representative of who I am,” Boone said. “Every song on there is heartfelt. In my book, it’s always more about the song than it is anything else.” The first track cut for the album turned out to be the title track Fish Grease, which is rather anthem-like in its appeal and captures what the Average Joe’s movement has been about since day one. Boone said he loved the beat the first time heard and wrote lyrics around the title after a friend heard the beat and said it was hot as fish grease. “It’s kind of become the Average Joe’s theme song,” said Houchins. He also mentioned I Just Want Her Back among his favorites from Boone’s record and said he especially loves the ironic contrast of being a sad song within a party jam. “Those two songs – (Fish Grease and I Just Want Her Back) – stand out the most,” Houchins added. Boone is 44, married and the father of two. He overcame a well-documented addiction and actually cofounded Rehab while in – of all places – rehab. In spite of being a family man these days, Boone said Camo Bikini is about the time on the lake or floating down the river when every teenage boy has “his eye on something.” Speaking of family, 1965 is about his stepfather, who raised him like his own. A Vietnam Veteran, he put his life on the line and, more importantly, had no idea he would wind up raising Boone when he returned home from the war. Boone said his father had everyone’s back as a teen when he defended the nation, and then had his son’s back during his teenage years that led to a stint in rehab. “I just recounted some of the conversations I had with him when I was small,” said Boone, who in hindsight learned a lot of life lessons from him. “He’s real humble, but bad ass at the same time.” My Small Town is about driving around your hometown and coming to the realization that time has changed. “There are all these memories of where you were,” Boone said, “but, at the same time, what was there then might not be there anymore.” Thematically it parallels Boone’s career. “I’m excited about going solo because I never had that opportunity,” he said. “It’s going to allow me – as far as growing goes – to do things that my children will be able to listen to.” “He’s probably the best songwriter I’ve ever met in my life,” Houchins said. Rehab built its fan base by averaging more than 200 shows a year – one year they even played 256 – and are best remembered for their hit singleBartender Song (Sittin at a Bar). It was released in 2000 and the video was nominated for a CMT Award. “It sounds like a country record,” said Houchins, so it comes with little surprise Boone would release a decidedly country rap album. Boone added, “I’m excited about the possibilities.” “I do it because I want to and I always will,” concluded Boone. “I consider being able to do it this long successful. I’ve always wanted to make music.” - See more at: http://www.averagejoesent.com/artists...